Oil tool



Sept. 1, 1953 I s. SORENSEN OIL TOOL 5 Shets-Sne'et l Filed April 2S, 1951 .INI/imola, f EE 5. So/ENSEN 7/////////// Aff/A? L. S. SORENSEN OIL TOOL Sept. 1, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Apr-il 213,l 1951 .IN VEN TOR. 4 5. oef/ysfw Arroz/ffm Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED Meur oFFlcl:

on. Toor.

Lee-sf. Sorensen, Long Beach, Calif; Application April 2s, 1951,seria1N. 222,482

5 Claims. ,(Cl., 166:12)

The present` invention relates to oil tools generally and specically to a liner hanger.

Liner hangers are utilized in oil Wells for the purpose of suspending tubing with-i-n y a liner and to hold tubing from engagement with the'bottorn oi 'the well hole aswell as for other purposes.

An object of the present. invention` is to provide a liner hanger which when secured within the incr will not be movable in either direction. Thus, the present hanger will not pull' inl either direction in theliner or casingv when certain elements thereof have been tightened-.-

lA further Objectis the provision ina' liner hanger or" a single set of slips for engagement with 'the liner and which slips, when engaging the liner, will prevent-the-hanger froml movingv in either direction.

A further object is toi providea liner hangerv in which definite indication of. the location of the hanger within the liner maybe ascertained.

l A further object is the provision of a. liner hanger which will notfheave'when excessive gas pressure is encountered within the well.

A further object is to provide a liner hanger construction which-may be readily packed andin which full width of annularV packing; may be utilined.

Further objects include. alinerV hanger of improved construction, easily opera-ted toset the saine within a liner and locks-the same. inposition, inexpensive in cost off manufacture, of few parts, and generally superiorto liner hangerslnow known to the inventor.

With the abovementionedand.other objects in view, the invention consists-in the-novel'and--useiul provision, formation, construction, association, and'relative. arrangement ofparts,` members and features, all as" shown in certain embodilments in theV accompanying drawings;4 described generally, and more particularly pointed" out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure i is an elevation of one form-oi"A liner hanger embodying myinvention'andshownipositioned within a liner wi'th'tubingsecuredito" both ends of said hanger, e

Figure 2 is asectionalview on th'eiline 2*-2l of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sepa-rated view of means for securing tubing *to -thelliner hanger,

Figure fi is a separatedvewoffa `lieadfutilie'd for actuating slips invthellinerharigerfc'onstru tion,

Figure 5. is. an elevation off a modified-*forni `of 'liner hanger' shown withinvafliner.

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line 6 -6 of Figure 5', detailing the packing and circulating elements thereof, K

Figure '7" is a Vertical sectional'view showing the parts in changed' relation from that'lof Figure 6,

Figure 8 is an elevation of a further modified form of circulation liner' hanger, v y

Figure 9` is a sectibnal view on the line 9 9 0I Figure 8L Figure 10 is a vertical sectional viewV on an enlarged scale of packing'l elements for that form ofthe invention shown in Figures 8 and 9,

Figure 11` isa perspective view of a spool used with the packing elements shownin Figure 10, and,l

Figure 12` is a .sectionalY view on an enlarged scale on the linev I'2'l'2 of Figure 8.

Referring. now with'v particularity to the drawings and specically to Figures 1 to i inclusive, the liner hanger i'sshown in Figure 1 in the act ofA beingy lowered within a liner I.. The hanger includes a sleeve'2`formedinwardly from one end 3V with a pair of diametrically disposed bayonet slots indicated' as an entirety atfi and 5 (see Figure 3) each bayonet' slot varying. from the usual construction by theY provision of a raised portion E", which raised portion lies between the vertical slotted portions i' and`- 8L Thus, when the liner hanger is being lowered within a liner, the dianetiic'ally positioned p'nsgand l0 ofthe Setting t'ool I if lie within the slots 8l and to release said pins, the pinsY passfrem'theslots' into the slots Tand in so doing". move over the raised portions in the transverse' sl'ots |42` interconnecting slots i an'd`8. This causes a` buinp which is rimmediately"coinmunicated'to the surface of the well and acts' as" ari indication of position of the hanger' witliiriv the liner, inasmuch'- as the well operator' knows" the` length of' tubing lowered within theY` casing.' The s-ztting4 tool H constitutesa'tube'prbvidedwith a threaded box lfer engagement with thethre'adedpin Ill of tubing I5," and'sa'd tube'nia'ylbeprovdd With an annuL lar flange- IB.

The sleeve Y2"is counterbored at' I l, the counterbore' communicating with lcor'e li! which has a diameter slightlyI greater than the diameter of the lower portion of th'e'f setting tool I'l. sleeve 21is-"internallyfscrew-threaded at i9, the screw threads I9* being interposed between the counterbore I7 and-a' further counterbore at il', the counterborel il' being. of greater diameter than thefdiameter ofthe'vcounterbore H.'

A mandrel-20 hasionel endl thereof provided with screwfthreads-ZZwhich areadapted to engage the The threads I9. This mandrel is tubular in form, and externally screw threaded at 23 for connection with a coupling 24, the said coupling in turn securing a tube 25, the tube 25 being externally threaded at both ends as shown at 2B and 21, the end 21 being threaded to tubing 28 which is being lowered within the well or being held by the liner hanger in a fixed position within the liner.

A swivel head 29 is externally positioned on the mandrel 20, thelsaid swivel head having a tapered periphery 30, with the end of greatest diameter topped by a reduced diameter portion 3l and with a flange 32, thus providing an annular groove. Adapted for placement within the annular groove or that portion between the top `having the greatest diameter and the flange 32 are a pair of split bushings 33 and 34, the .bushings beingV anged as shown at 35 and 36. The bushings t within the annular groove with the flanged portions lying against the top of greatest diameter of the swivel head. An annulus 31 acts as a bearing and is positioned within the counterbore I1'. as is likewise the part 32, and interposed between parts 32 and 31 are ball bearings 38. Set screws 39 are passed through the sleeve 2 and engage the split bushings 33 and 34, as shown in Figure 2, for locking the head to the sleeve. However, the construction is such, due to the presence of the bushings and the ball bearings, that the swivel head may rotate on the periphery of the mandrel 20.

I provide a series cf slips arranged in annular formation, as shown at 49, for slide movement upon the head 29. These slips are provided with the usual teeth and are interconnected by means of arms 4I extending from a collar 42, the collar surrounding the mandrel. The inner faces of said slips are inclined relative to the axis of the mandrel and said faces slide upon the head 29 to the end that the slips may be urged outwardly when the head is moved downwardly to force the teeth of said slips into engagement with the liner.

Carried on the tube 25 is a leaf member 43, which member includes a pair of spaced apart llo collars 44 and 45 slidable upon said tube, with bowed leaf springs 4S spacedly carried between said collars. The collars are provided with set screws 41 whereby the collars may be located in a definite position on said tube 25.

The form of liner hanger shown in the figures just described is of the non-circulating type. However it is often necessary to remove mud and other debris from beneath the hanger and to accomplish this hangers of the type depicted in the remaining figures may be utilized, and wherein fresh water may be circulated to clean the liner and other parts. Where possible the same reference characters will be applied to the forms of the invention shown in the remaining gures. Thus in the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 to '1 inclusive we have, as before, the tube VI I provided with pins 9 and I0 which enter or are released from the bayonet slots 4 and 5 in the sleeve 2. This sleeve is provided with the same type of counterbores I1 and I1 with the bore I8 of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of one end of the tube I I and is likewise provided with the same arrangement of swivel head 29 carried on mandrel 20. However, in the present instance the mandrel is of greater length than the mandrel shown in Figure 2. Carried on the mandrel 29 is a packer 55. This packer has both ends thereof beveled as shown at 5l and 52 and the said packer is adapted to be interposed between glands 53 and 54 in the form of sleeves car- 4 ried on the mandrel 20. The said glands have internally beveled ends 55 and 5B which engage the beveled ends of the packer while the upper end of gland 53 is plane and engages the outer surface of collar 42. Gland 54 is provided with a tapered counterbore 51. The pin end 58 of the mandrel 20 is secured to a coupling 59, which coupling is provided with a reduced diameter tapered annular flange 6i) whichl may, in one position, enter the tapered counterbore 51 of gland 54. Coupling 59 secures a tube such as 25. Surrounding the tube 25 is the leaf spring member 43. The mandrel 20 in the present form of the invention is provided with transverse bores 6I adjacent the pin end thereof and these bores communicate with transverse bores in the flange 5D of the coupling 59, hence when the tool is in the position shown in Figure 6 the bores are open to afford passage for a liquid therethrough and outwardly between the coupling 59 and the gland 54. However, in a second position of the tool as illustrated in Figure 7 the flange 60 is received within the counterbore 51 and fluid passage through said bores 6I is closed.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 12 inclusive is quite similar to that just described for Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, the difference residing in the type of packer. Thus the same reference numbers will apply with the exception of the sleeve 10 which is carried upon the mandrel 20 and engages the collar 42. In the present instance the gland which is shown at 54 in Figure 6 is provided with a fiat top in place of the bevel, the gland in the present instance being indicated as 1I, the construction otherwise remaining the same so far as the circulating type of coupling is concerned. Interposed between sleeve 13 which is in reality a gland and gland 1I is a spool 12 of the form shown in Figure 11, the spool having oppositely tapered peripheral portions 13 and 14, the said spool being carried on the mandrel 20. Engaging the tapered portions 13 and 14 is a lead or other soft metal packing 15, said packing being in the form of upper and lower segments, the inner surfaces being tapered with respect to the outer surfaces, as shown for instance at 16 and 11. Furthermore the upper and lower segments of the packing extend beyond the ends of the spool 12 for engagement between the glands 10 and 1I. Thus if the glands are moved so as to diminish the distance therebetween the lead packing is moved upon the tapered surfaces of the spool to force the packing into tight engagement with the inner surface of the liner, and in the manner shown in Figure 10. This construction provides for what is termed full diameter of the packing and affords a very effective seal against passage of liquid or gas past said packing.

The operation, uses and advantages of the several forms of the invention just described are as follows:

Taking first that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the liner hanger is lowered within the liner by means of the tubing I5, the setting tool having its pins 9 and I0 positioned within the slots 8 of the bayonet slots 4 and 5. The operator has previously determined the depth to which the liner hanger and its associated tubing such as shown at 28 is to be lowered and positioned, and assuming that a given depth within the liner has been reached, the operator then rotates the tubing I5 in a direction that causes the mandrel threads to screw within the 'arrasar counterbore il. I'nso doing the slips will move on the tapered surface of the spool 2s and bring the teeth of the said slips into engagement with the inner surface of the linerto secure the' liner hanger thereto.A Such movement -of the mandrel within the sleeves Il is possible for the' reason that the bowed leaf spr-ings 4B have frictional engagement with the inner surface of the liner and the collars -44 and 45 are held by means of set screws 41 to the tube adapter 25, thus rotation of tube l5 will cause travel 'of the mandrel within the sleeve 2. However the head 29 will swivel or rotate upon the mandrel for the reason that the split bushings are held by set screws 35 to the sleeve 2 and likewise due to the presence of the roller bearings 33 between the sleeve and the member 29. Thus as the slips move upon the swivel head, no rotation of the swivel head and the slips will occur during rotation of the sleeve 2 and movement of the mandrel. Having locked the liner hanger to the liner the operator will then lower the tubing l5, which lowers the tube Il and by counter rotation of the tube l5 the pins 9 and Ill will pass through the transverse slot between the slots l and 8, the pins traveling over the surface of the raised portion 6, which in so doing will raise the tubing slightly and give an indication to the operator at the surface of the well that said pins are now positioned within the slots l, to permit withdrawal of the tubing i5 and the setting tool II.

That form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and '7 differs from that form just described in the use of a packer to permit circulation of clear water to wash away any mud which may surround the liner hanger and within the liner. Thus upon lowering the liner hanger to a defined position within the liner the mandrel may be turned to cause the threads thereof to travel within the sleeve 2, as for instance shown in Figure 7, to bring the slips into engagement with the inner surface of said liner and in so doing the glands 53 and 54 will compress the packer 50 therebetween to force the said packer into engagement with the liner as shown. In the position of the parts shown in Figure 6, the flange 60 is spaced from the gland 54 and there is no obstruction to passage of liquid through the bores El. Thus water may be passed downwardly through the tubing l5 for passage through the tubing 28. However, if an obstruction is encountered, this water is passed through the circulation bores 6l and outwardly of the liner hanger to wash away mud, after which the slips may be brought into engagement with the hanger to compress the packing and segregate the area between the liner and the tubing 28.

That form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 12, as previously stated, varies from the form shown in Figures 5 to 7, in the use of a metal packing and wherein the packing has an uniform external diameter, together with a taper sided spool upon which the tapered inner surface of the packing moves to force said packing into tight engagement with the inner surface of the liner and the tapered outer surface of the spool when the glands l0 and 'H approach to compress the said packing. This form of the invention assures that the well is packed off above and below the liner hanger. However full diameter of the packing is utilized in the lpresent form.

I claim:

l. A liner hanger including a sleeve internally provided lwith screw" threads, "a 'mandrel provided with s'crew threads forv 'engagement with the threads of the sleeve to cause relative axial movement between the sleeve and the mandrel when one'of said members is rotated, a head, provided with a tapered side wall, :carried on the periphery of said mandrel, said head formed with an annular groove, a split bushing within said annular groove and means carried by the said sleeve and engaging said bushing for securing the head to said sleeve for relative rotation; an annular series of segmental slips, each slip provided with an arm and a collar surrounding the mandrel and carrying the slip arms, said slips adapted to engage the said head, relative movement in one direction between the sleeve and the mandrel expanding the said slips.

2. A liner hanger including a setting tool, a sleeve and means between the setting tool and sleeve effecting detachable engagement therebetween, said sleeve provided with an internal screw threaded portion, a mandrel having a threaded portion for engagement with the threaded portion of the sleeve, a swivel head carried on the mandrel and rotatably secured to one end of the sleeve, slips carried on the periphery of the mandrel and engaging the head, relative movement between the sleeve and mandrel upon turning the sleeve relative to the mandrel causing the swivel head to expand the slips; an annular packer carried on the periphery of the mandrel, glands on both sides of said packer and movably carried on the periphery of the mandrel, means between the slips and one of said glands to hold the gland against movement when the slips are expanded, and a coupling carried on the mandrel and engaging the other gland to move the gland when relative movement occurs between the mandrel and sleeve, said other gland formed at one end with a counterbore, and the said coupling formed with circulation bores, said mandrel formed with circulation bores registering with the circulation bores of the coupling, the said circulation bores being closed upon reception of the coupling within the counterbore of said gland.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that an annular packer is carried on the said mandrel, there being glands movably carried on said mandrel on both sides of said packer, one gland engaging the slip arm collar, and fixed means on the mandrel engaging the other gland, said glands compressing the packer between the slip arm collar and the fixed means on the mandrel upon relative movement lbetween the mandrel and the sleeve in one direction.

4. The device as set forth in claim l characterized in that a spool is carried on the periphery of the mandrel, segmental metal packing positioned on the periphery of said spool, glands movably carried on said mandrel on both sides or" said spool and engaging said segmental metal packing, one gland engaging the slip arm collar and xed means on the mandrel engaging the other gland, said glands adapted to engage the packing to compress the same between the slip arm collar and the xed means on the mandrel upon relative movement between the mandrel and the sleeve in one direction.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that a spool having a tapered side wall is carried on the periphery of the mandrel, segmental annular series of packing positioned LEE S. SORENSEN.

References Cited in the ille of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Mack May 6, 1919 Mack Dec. 16, 1930 Stewart May 24, 1932 Hall et al May 30, 1939 Ford May 2l, 1940 Page Dec. 5, 1950 Page Dec. 19, 1950 

